Kid Normal chosen as 2018 Young City Read

Kid Normal by Greg James and Chris Smith (Bloomsbury Children's) has been chosen as 2018 Young City Read for children across Brighton & Hove and "beyond".

The Big Read initiative sees one book selected for the whole community to read, explore, discuss and engage with creatively.

Young City Reads will launch on World Book Day 2018 (1st March), and targeted schools receive a free arts workshop linked to the book's themes. On the 18th May 2018 there will be a Young City Reads celebration event at Brighton Festival featuring the authors live.

Primary school teachers and classes are invited to register online for free and agree to read Kid Normal together in class between 1st March and 18th May 2018). The class or Head Teacher can complete a sign-up form on the City Reads website to receive free weekly resources and activities linked to the book.

James and Smith said: "We know that Brighton is full of superpowers: seagull evasion, shingle navigation and dolphin racing, to name but three. And now we're looking forward to adding a few new ones with the help of your awesome powers of creativity. We hope you enjoy meeting Murph and his friends in Kid Normal, and we can't wait to meet you all to make up some new stories!"

Rebecca McNally, editor-in-chief at Bloomsbury Children’s Books, added: "We’re delighted that Kid Normal has been chosen as this year’s Young City Reads title. It’s a privilege to be able to support an initiative that is dedicated to fostering a love of reading for pleasure, and we know that Greg and Chris’s brilliant brand of warm, anarchic humour and edge-of-your-seat adventure will have primary school children throughout Brighton & Hove thoroughly hooked."

Chris Riddell, author and Young City Reads patron, said: "The idea behind Young City Reads is simple, we choose one book for everyone to read at the same time. The book is chosen by teachers and is always picked with reluctant readers in mind, so if like me you think every child should be encouraged to read for pleasure then sign up to Young City Reads 2018!"